Young Stars Could Add To Football Legacy

David Teel

Ronald Curry struck during the final act. Antoine Womack pounced as the curtain rose. Different timing, same result: a dagger in the heart of Tabb High's football team.

``You love to see great athletes,'' Tabb defensive coordinator David Walton said Friday night, the second wound still fresh. ``But you hate to coach against them. These kind of athletes come around once in a lifetime.''

Indeed, it's hard to imagine one district, one city, graced with a pair such as Curry and Womack. Talent, size, instinct, style. They have it all.

And they are stunningly young. Curry is a freshman quarterback at Hampton High, Womack a sophomore tailback at Phoebus.

They are the best players. They compete for the best teams. And on Nov. 4, they will meet in a showdown that figures to match two undefeated, playoff-bound teams clashing for the Peninsula District championship.

Until then, we watch and wonder.

Last Saturday at Darling Stadium, Curry rallied Hampton to a 29-28 victory against Tabb. He guided the Crabbers on two scoring drives late in the fourth quarter and ran 8 yards for the decisive touchdown with 49 seconds remaining.

Friday at Bailey Field, Womack rushed for 265 yards in Phoebus's 33-21 victory. He gained 216 in the first half alone and had runs of 59, 39 and 28 yards.

``Curry understands the game so well,'' Walton said. ``He has the ability to get you into a situation you can't get out of. Womack never gives up. I saw that on film. We had him trapped several times tonight, and he got away.

``To think that they're so young is incredible. This area has produced more tailbacks than quarterbacks. But Womack can be one of the best. Curry, he's got it all. He could be the best.''

Curry and Womack, if they're lucky, diligent, and smart, if they grow as men as they've grown as athletes, might join that elite group.

Curry, 6-foot-3, 186 pounds, has a big-league arm that should only get stronger. But the skills that define him are quickness and poise. He senses a pass rush an instant before it arrives. He embraces pressure.

Oh, Curry doesn't recognize defenses at times, and he absorbs too many hits for a quarterback. But experience should correct those flaws.

Just as experience will make Womack a more decisive runner between the tackles. But once Womack makes a decision, look out.

``That first hit is like no hit to him,'' Walton said.

Cue up Womack's 28-yard touchdown run just before halftime Friday. Running toward the right sideline, Womack, 6-1, 190 pounds, was met by two Tabb defenders. He broke free, and the adventure began.

He reversed his field. He spun past one defender. He dipped a shoulder inside, shifted into overdrive and went back outside down the left sideline.

``We had six guys hit him,'' Walton said.

Walton and Tabb can rest assured. They won't see anyone else like Curry or Womack this season.

We get to see them Nov. 4. On the same field. If we are fortunate, we will see them next season, too. And the season after that. A trilogy.

Didn't Ali and Frazier meet three times, too?

Sure, such talk is foolhardy. Adolescence is tough enough without grand expectations. But anyone who's watched Curry and Womack knows: